Reducing Pesticide Exposure J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. University of Florida

Transcription

1 1 Keeping Your Team Safe: Reducing Pesticide Exposure J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. University of Florida Are Pesticides Safe? News Headlines Pesticide Exposure Linked to Preterm Birth In Home Pesticide Exposure and Parkinson's Risk Pesticide Traces Found in Kids Here (Seattle) Pet Flea Collars May Expose Children to Pesticide Harm Living Near Where Pesticides Used May Boost Fetal Death Due To Birth Defects Killing Mosquitoes or Killing Humans? West Nile Spraying to Begin Worried Marcy Residents Have Many Concerns Are Synthetic Pesticides Sabotaging our Children s Health, Behavior, and Academic Performance?

2 2 Are Pesticides Safe? Pesticides are designed to kill things, but experts agree that you can safely use pesticides! Hazard (Risk) = Toxicity X Exposure Toxicity = How poisonous is the pesticide? Hazard (Risk) = Toxicity X Exposure All pesticides are toxic they differ only in the degree of toxicity. Measure toxicity using an LD 50 value. LD 50 Lethal Dose to kill 50% of the test animals. The lower the LD 50, the more toxic the pesticide. Exposure = Amount X Duration

3 3 Rank the fungicides in order of their toxicity: LD 50 Values for Common Fungicides 1. Heritage (azoxystrobin) 2. Daconil (chlorothalonil) 3. Chipco 26GT (iprodione) 4. Compass (trifloxystrobin) All are equal > 5,000 mg/kg Rank the herbicides in order of their toxicity: LD 50 Values for Common Herbicides 1. Buctril (Bromoxynil) 2. RoundUp (glyphosate) 3. Manor (metsulfuron) 4. 2,4 D 1. Buctril = 250 mg/kg 2. 2,4 D = 300 mg/kg 3. RoundUp = 4,300 mg/kg 4. Manor = > 5,000 mg/kg Rank the insecticides in order of their toxicity: LD 50 Values for Common Insecticides 1. Distance (pyriproxyfin) 2. Talstar (bifenthrin) 3. Dursban (chlorpyrifos) 4. Orthene (acephate) 1. Dursban = 270 mg/kg 2. Talstar = 375 mg/kg 3. Orthene = 980 mg/kg 4. Distance = > 5,000 mg/kg

4 4 The Dose Makes the Poison Chemical Term Oral LD50 Pounds to Kill a 150 lb. Human Benomil Practically Non-Toxic 10,000 mg/kg 1.50 lbs Mancozeb Practically Non-Toxic 8, lbs Iprodione Slightly Toxic 5, lbs Baking Soda Slightly Toxic 4, lbs Table Salt Slightly Toxic 3, lbs Propiconizol Slightly Toxic 1, lbs Aspirin Slightly Toxic 1, lbs Orthene Moderately Toxic lbs Sevin Moderately Toxic lbs Caffiene Moderately Toxic lbs Nicotine Highly Toxic lbs = 1/8 oz Hazard (Risk) = Toxicity X Exposure Pesticides are potentially dangerous to people if exposure is high. Even a relatively non toxic pesticide can be dangerous if exposure is high. Pesticide Effects: Acute Delayed (Chronic) Allergic Acute Effects Refers to the effects from a single exposure or repeated exposure over a short time, such as an accident during mixing or applying pesticides Illnesses or injury that occur within 24 hours. Acute Effects Illnesses or injury that occur within 24 hours. Mild poisoning symptoms: May be vague and can be compared with the flu. Nausea, headache, tightness of chest, loss of appetite, stomach cramps. Moderate poisoning symptoms: More pronounced than mild symptoms. Nausea, trembling, muscular incoordination, excessive saliva, blurring of vision, tightness of chest, difficulty in breathing, flushed or yellow skin, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, tearing from eyes, profound weakness, rapid pulse, cough. Acute Effects Illnesses or injury that occur within 24 hours. Severe poisoning symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, inability to breathe, convulsions, fever, intense thirst, and coma. Delayed (Chronic) Effects Effects of long term or repeated lower level exposures to a toxic substance. Do not appear immediately after first exposure may take years Cancer Injury to Unborn Children Birth Defects, Miscarriage, Still Birth System Problems Anemia, Hard to stop bleeding, Paralysis Liver and Kidney disorders

5 5 Delayed (Chronic) Effects Carcinogenicity ability to produce cancer or to assist carcinogenic chemicals; Mutagenicity ability to cause genetic changes; Teratogenicity ability to cause birth defects; Oncogenicity ability to induce tumor growth (not necessarily cancers); Liver damage; Reproductive disorders (reduced sperm count, sterility, miscarriage); Nerve damage (including accumulative effects on cholinesterase depression associated with organophosphate insecticides); Allergenic sensitization (development of allergies to pesticides or chemicals used in formulation of pesticides). Allergic Effects Asthma Shock Skin Irritation chaffing, rashes Sneezing, Itchy, watery eyes 1st exposure sensitizes the body. 2nd exposure causes the allergic reaction. Let s consider your team... But what about... Pesticide Exposure Routes of Entry Eyes Skin Lungs Oral Routes of Entry ***EYES*** Accidents often occur during mixing and loading. Splashes from adding chemicals to the tank. Hose breaks. Wind blown drift. Rubbing of eyes.

6 6 Choose Right Equipment Eye Protection Especially important during mixing and loading. Glasses Goggles Face Shields Source: Iowa State Univ. Routes of Entry ***SKIN*** Most likely route because blood vessels are near the skin. Fluorescent Dye Indicator Studies. Hands receive the most exposure. Foreheads and Mouth area. Genital areas. How Much Pesticide Will Skin Absorb? Scalp - 32% Ear Canal - 40% Forehead - 36% Palm - 12% Back of Hand - 21% Abdomen - 18% Genitals - 100% Ball of Foot - 13%

7 7 Routes of Entry ***SKIN*** Cuts, Scrapes, and Rashes 100% of pesticide can enter. Pesticide Ingredients ACTIVE responsible for killing the pest INERT makes the formulation safer, more effective and easier to handle ADJUVANT may or may not already be present in the product; used for the same reason as the inert ingredients Liquid Formulations and Abbreviations EC or E emulsifiable concentrate RTU ready to use AS aqueous suspension / solution S, SL or SC water soluble liquids AS, F, FL, L or WDL flowables, water dispersible liquids

8 8 Dry Formulations and Abbreviations Rank most absorbed to least absorbed D dusts B baits G granular WP or W wettable powder SP or WSP soluble powder DF dry flowable WDG water dispersible granule 1. Emulsifiable Concentrates 2. Dusts 3. Baits 4. Water Dispersible Granules 5. Water Dispersible Liquids 6. Flowable 7. Soluble Concentrate 1. Emulsifiable Concentrates 2. Soluble Concentrate 3. Flowable 4. Water Dispersible Liquids 5. Water Dispersible Granules 6. Dusts 7. Baits Pesticide Formulation Increasing Absorption Practical Considerations Adjuvants: Penetrants & Emulsifiers Can allow pesticide to enter skin more quickly. Stickers Allows pesticides to stick to PPE and skin. Least Absorbed Dry Based Water Based Emulsifiable Concentrates Most Absorbed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Choose the Right Equipment. Clean and Maintain it Properly. Use PPE Correctly.

9 9 The more toxic a pesticide, the more PPE that is required Nitrile CAUTION Regular work clothes longsleeved shirt, long pants, shoes & socks, waterproof gloves WARNING Coveralls over work clothing, shoes & socks, chemicalresistant gloves, eyewear DANGER Coveralls over work clothing, chemicalresistant gloves and footwear, respiratory and eye protection Disposable nitrile Neoprene Choose Right Equipment Source: Iowa State Univ. Disposable barrier laminate Choose Right Equipment Chemical Resistant PPE Cotton, Canvas, and Leather are not chemically resistant. Avoid clothe lined shoes, hats, gloves, etc. Unlined nitrile Lined neoprene Source: Iowa State Univ. Mechanic s Gloves Routes of Entry ***LUNGS*** Pesticides are more likely to enter through your lungs if you are spraying in poorly ventilated areas. Protected areas limited air movement

10 10 Routes of Entry ***ORAL*** Not likely to swallow large amounts of pesticide unless someone puts chemicals in food and beverage containers. Pop Bottles, Milk Containers, etc. Small amounts of pesticides are likely to enter if eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing tobacco & gum. Clean and Maintain Properly Contaminated PPE is dangerous! Dispose of PPE contaminated with pesticides labeled with the signal words danger or warning Wash contaminated work clothes and PPM separately. Hot water with heavy duty detergent. Rinse twice. Wash the washing machine. Source: Iowa State Univ. Let s consider your team... Questions or Comments Photo Credits University of Missouri University of Georgia IFAS Communication Services University of Nebraska Institute of Pathology, Washington DC Gempler s Mention of trade names in this presentation is solely for providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of the products named, and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer s label.